The technology major stated that it is proposing a set of licensing remedies to ensure parity between the PlayStation and Xbox platforms in respect of Call of Duty, as well as the wide availability of it and other Activision titles on cloud gaming services
Microsoft responds to the UK CMA's remedies notice. (Credit: Jiaqian AirplaneFan/Wikimedia Commons)
Microsoft has proposed to continue licensing Call of Duty, including all existing and future releases on the Xbox console, to Sony for a period of 10 years as a response to the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) remedies notice.
The technology major has laid out several remedies to address the concerns raised by the British competition watchdog regarding the former’s previously announced $68.7bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Last month, the Commission stated that the in-depth investigation of the proposed merger has provisionally found the deal to be harmful.
Microsoft stated that it is proposing a set of licensing remedies to ensure parity between the PlayStation and Xbox platforms in respect of Call of Duty, as well as the wide availability of it and other Activision titles on cloud gaming services.
In its response to the British regulator, Microsoft has guaranteed that the gaming titles will be available on PlayStation and PC following the transaction.
The technology major has also revealed its gaming deal with Nintendo, which will make the Call of Duty titles available on the Nintendo platforms for at least 10 years.
Microsoft stated: “Moreover, Microsoft intends to expand the reach of CoD to new platforms and has signed binding agreements with Nintendo and Nvidia to bring the game to an additional 150 million gamers worldwide if the Merger is approved.”
In February 2020, Microsoft similarly agreed to a 10-year partnership with American technology company Nvidia to make Xbox PC games available on the latter’s GeForce NOW cloud gaming service.
Separately, Sony Interactive Entertainment has raised concerns over the proposed deal as well as Microsoft’s proposed remedies.
According to Sony, Microsoft might increase the price of Call of Duty titles on PlayStation and degrade its quality and performance on the platform.